Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy

HUMANISTIC & INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY SECTION

Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy ACAT

ACAT, PO Box 6793, Dorchester, DT1 9DL
T: 0844 8009496
F: 020 7928 0981
E:
W: www.acat.me.uk
Contact Name: Bill Crumbleholme

Organisational History

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) is the result of the work of Dr Anthony Ryle and his collaborators in the 1980's. It arose out of three commitments: a desire to develop effective and practicable psychotherapy within the National Health Service; involvement in psychotherapy research; a growing conviction that the time was ripe for a unified psychotherapy theory. This led to a psychotherapy drawing explicitly on the psychoanalytic object relation tradition; cognitive psychology and psychotherapy, and, more recently, the Vygotskian tradition of Activity theory. It is a brief time limited psychotherapy of 12-24 (usually 16) sessions, with an emphasis on the meaning of time and termination. The therapist actively focuses the therapy around a written reformulation and sequential diagrammatic reformulation jointly constructed with the patient. A focal area of research is work with Borderline Personality Disorder patients. Organisationally CAT was nurtured within the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals (London) under Professor Jim Watson. The Association of Cognitive Analytic Therapists (ACAT) was launched in October 1992. In January 1994 ACAT was elected a member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy, enabling it to register successful candidates on the national register of psychotherapists. In 2001 ACAT adopted a new constitution and name: The Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy was chosen to reflect a more' holistic' approach to developing CAT through education and training.

Training Course Selection & Admission

Training Course Requirements

Applicants need to have successfully completed two years CAT Practitioner Training before applying. The course runs for two year with a third year to complete clinical work and a dissertation. A core value of the course is to generate a CAT learning community and enable a cross fertilisation of CAT practice from around the regions, drawing in a diversity of trainees and trainers. The course is divided into 6 four monthly modules consists of a 5 day intensive residential block, with locally based seminar groups and tutorials. Supervised clinical practice and personal psychotherapy continues throughout training. Trainees submit one theory essay, two (taped) case-studies and a 10,000 word dissertation. Successful completion of all aspects of the course enables trainees to register with UKCP as CAT Psychotherapists.

Training Course Assessments, standards, role of training committee

Training Courses Course Information

Introductory Courses Are one or two day workshops giving a brief introduction to the theory and practice of CAT with discussion of participants' case material. These are currently offered in a variety of locations at different times of the year. Certain regions also offer a extended Introductory courses which cover more depth and are available over a number of weeks.
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Cost - £50 plus per day depending on where they are held

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Practitioner Training Practitioner training enables core professionals with competence in their own field to enhance their understanding and skills in psychotherapy by learning the theory and methods of CAT. It leads to a Diploma of Competence and membership of ACAT. It is offered by a variety of regional groups some of whom are linking courses with universities and will be offering Diploma or MSc qualifications. There is a mixture of clinical work, 20 training days, supervision and personal therapy over a two year period
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Cost - £1000-£2000 per year not including supervision or personal therapy

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ACAT Psychotherapy Training The Inter-Regional Psychotherapy Training in CAT is run by ACAT in response to the growing demand for a CAT Training which is accessible to CAT Practitioner completing CAT Practitioner Training from widely diverse geographical regions.

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Cost - £2750 does not include supervision or personal therapy

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Theoretical orientation

The Training Committee of ACAT is responsible for setting the national framework of ACAT courses and approving and monitoring standards on the courses. ACAT training is delivered by a number of regional groups, mostly in hospital or university settings. Geographically it takes place in London, Bristol, Southampton, Oxford, Plymouth, Manchester (through ACAT North which has a yearly intake), East Anglia, Sunderland, Dublin and Liverpool. Trainees come mainly from a variety of the core caring professions: clinical psychology, psychiatry, psychotherapy, counselling, social work, occupational therapy etc.
As an integrative psychotherapy training, ACAT encourages trainees to be familiar with the variety of theories which inform CAT and the psychotherapy research literature. It draws trainees from a variety of theoretical backgrounds thus encouraging active dialogue.
There are three forms of training in CAT: Introductory, Practitioner and Psychotherapy.

Accreditation, graduation, membership

Code of ethics/ethical principals

Is the organisation accrediting, training or both?

Both

Is the organisation running a low cost scheme?

Depends on courses

Does the organisation offer clincial services?

Some courses do

Does the organisation have members included in the UKCP national register?

Yes

Other Relevant Information

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